Coil-handling apparatus



INVENTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Clarence d. /f/ein C. J. KLEIN COIL-HANDLING APPARATUS Filed DeC. 16, 1936 May 2, 1939.

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l l. Ill Jqqlll Muay 2, 1939. C, 1 KLE|N 2,156,695

COIh-HANDLI NG APPARATUS Filed De@ 1e, 1.936 2 sheets-sheet 2 ,I lNvENToR o. a #y mi; o ,l

Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES COIL-HANDLING APPARATUS Clarence J. Klein, Stebenvilla Ohio Application December 16, 1936, Serial No. 116,229

20 Claims.

My invention relates to coil-handling apparatus and is adapted for stripping coil material 'from a coiler or winding drum and moving .the coil to a position where it may be discharged onto a storage surface. It is particularly adapted for use in connection with mills for rolling strip metal and a suitable structure for use in connection with such a mill will be described. I

In rolling mills which are now employed for rolling strip or sheet metal, it is the usual practice to deliver the rolled material directly from the iinishing stand to a reeling or coiling mechanism by means of which the material is formed into hollow cylindrical coils for ease in handling and to reduce the operating space requirements of the mill. The reels or coilers commonly employed are of the collapsible type to enable the finished coil to be stripped therefrom. The surface of the coiled metal is usually highly iinished and it is essential that the coils, which are of great Weight, be carefully yhandled to prevent unnecessary marking of material both on the inside n of the coil and on the outside thereof, which marking reduces thevalue of the coil. 'Ihe nnished coils after being stripped from the coiler or winding drum are commonly handledby special coil-handling trucks or by an overhead crane. Sometimes handling arrangements are not immediately available and the operation of the mill has to be suspended until the coil-handling equipment is available.

By my invention, I provide apparatus which will strip the coiled material from the coller and support the coil while it is being stripped so that no injury will resultto the coil and then transport the coil to a suitable storage place where it may be transferred from the apparatus to the storage floor by gravity. To accomplish this, I

provide means which can be moved into posi- 40 tion under the 4coil while on the winding drum to support the weight of the coil when the coil is being stripped therefrom. The mechanism for stripping the coil is then operated and as the coil is stripped, the support is moved with the coil and continues to support it until the coil is entirely removed from the reel. When the coil has been moved to a position beyond the reel, the coil support is retracted andthe top of the -support in immediate contact with the coil is tilted so as to cause the coil to roll off the support and onto the storage space by gravity.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown ior purposes of illustration only a preferred em-l bodiment of my invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 yis a plan view partly in section ci the apparatus; 1 v

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view along the line II-II of Figure 1;

p Figure 3 is a cross sectional view along the line 6 III-III of Figure 1;`

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view along the line IV--IVl of Figure 2 to an enlarged scale; and

Figure 5 is a view along the, line V--V of Figure 1 to an enlarged scale.

In general, the apparatus consists of a cradle or platform f or supporting the coil as the coil is being removed from the coiling mechanism, a guide member to which the cradle is secured,

which member is mounted vertically to raise and 1li lower the cradle, a cage element in which the guidemember is received, which cage element is movable horizontally and carries with it the guide and cradle, and means for so moving the cage element. In the drawings, there is illustrated a coil cradie or platform .2, which is movable vertically by means of a piston 3, which is received in cylinder 4 secured to cage 5. Fluid pressure for operating. piston 3l is supplied to the cylinder by means 25 ofthe pressure supply pipe 6 from a suitable pressure source, not shown. The piston 3 and the coil cradle 2 are connected by'links 1, secured 'to the upper end of piston 3 by a pin B1 and to the lower portionof cradle 2 by pin 9. 30 The cradle 2 is pivoted to a guide I0 by means of hinges II, through which passes a pin I2. Each side I3 of the cradle 2 has lateral projections I4 which are received in recesses I5 of guide III Recess I5 is of greater vertical dimension 35 than the vertical dimension of the projection I4 so thatthe cradle 2 can have a limited vertical movement without movement of the guide IIJ (see Figure 2).

The guide III is restrained against all but vertical movement by means of projecting surfaces I6 which protrude beyond the ends I1 of the guide. The projecting surfaces have secured thereto Wear plates I8 which are angular in form and take the side and end thrust of the guide III.

. These wear plates bear against appropriate portions of tracks I9 of cage 5. Formed on the ends of guide I0 and part way down the ends are stops 20, which serve to limit the upward travel of the guide III. In the extreme upward position of guide I0, stops 20 Will lcontact stop plate 2|.

Formed on the sides of cage 5 are projecting lugs 22 which are received in recesses 23 of the sideguide members 24 and 25. Between the sliding surfaces ofthese projections 22 and side guide. Q55

to taire `.care of vertical thrust and side thrust'.

Theguide member-24 is ladapted-to beilxedly insertedaln one sidewall of the pit 21 and the guide member 28 is adapted -to be removably securedtogfthe opposite side wall of the pit. The pit 21 is wide enough to accommodate the cage and is;I deep enough to accommodate the cage 8 and the necessary pressure connections to ycylinder 4 land is long enough to permit theback and forth movement of thecage and its attached mechanism so that the cradle or platform 2, guide 'I9 and cage 5 may be moved a sufficient vdistance longitudinally to permit the coil to be carried a desired distance beyond the end of the reel, as shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, an appropriete reel 28; and a completed coil 29 are shown in chain lines with the coil in the winding position on reel 28. The extreme right hand position of the cage l and coil 29 is shown in chain lines in Figure 2 and designated 5' and 29', respectively. Y

In order that the top of the pit to the right.of the cage 5 may be covered when the cage and associated mechanism is in the stripping position, a floor plate 30 is secured to the right. hand end of cage 5. As shown in Figure 3, the sides of the floor plate are secured to platecarriers 3| which protrude into and are received in recesses 32 and are there.supported on wear strips 33 secured l-to the bottom and outer edges of the recesses.l Above each recess is a projecting portion 34, which'serves to prevent the plate carriers 3| and floor plate-30 from moving upwardly and allows the oor plate 30 to move only in a substantially horizontal plane. When the cage 5 and floor plate 30 are moved to the right, away from the reel 28, the floor plate 30 is moved under the fixed cover plate 35, as shown in Figures 2 and 5. The plate carriers 3| while in that position are supported on the guides 3l, which have wear strips 38 thereon, these guides being `secured to the pit walls as shown in Figure 5. The wear strips 33 and 38 abut one another and are in horizontal alignment so that the floor plate 30 may be readily moved to the right along a. continuous path asv shown in Figure 2, in which the extreme right hand position of floor plate 30 is shown in chain lines. Upward movement of floor plate 30 when it is being moved to the right is also prevented by the cover plate 35 extending between the guides 31. By this arrangement cf the floor plate 30 and cover plate 35, the entire pit to the right of the reel as shown in Figure 1 is covered at all `'times either bythe cradle 2 and its associated structure or by the cover plate 30.

Secured to one end of the cage 5 is a stripping plate 39, which extends upwardly from cage 5 almost to the outer circumference of the winding drum of reel 28 and serves to engage the `edge of the coil rand to strip the coil from the drum when the cage 5 and associated mechanism is moved to the right, as shown in Figure 2. 'I'he cage 5 and associated mechanism is moved by means of a suitable piston 40, which operates in cylinder 4|. Suitable uid pressure is'introduced into cylinder 4| to actuate the piston either to the right or to the left, as is required. As this form of actuating mechanism is old 'in the art and forms no part of the present 'invention it need not be further described;

Operation of the device After a coil has been wound, for example coil 29 (see/Figure 2), the` cradle 2 isl raised by the admission of fluid pressure to the bottom of cylinder 4.-" The cradle will then be raised toa position `lust below the upper chain line position shown in Figure 4. Next the reel 28 is collapsed.

the cradle 2 is further raised to takethe weighty' of the coil, and the piston 40 is operated to move the cage 5, guide I0, cradle 2 and `associated apparatus to the right, as shown in Figure 2.' 'Ihe stripper 39 will cause the coil to be stripped olf the reel 28 `and at the limit of the movement to the right', the coil will be in the longitudinal position shown to the right of Figure 2, where the coil is shown in` chain lines 4and designated 29' and the cradle 2 will be in the vertical posi,- tion shown in the upper chain lines in Figure 4.

.The pressure on the under side of piston 3 is released, whereupon the cradle 2 will drop to the position shown in full lines in Figure 4, and upon further movement of the piston downwardly., the cradle will move slightly anticloc'kwise about hinges and assume the position shown in bottom chain lines in Figure 4, where the left side of the cradle 2 (Figure 4) is flush with the top surface 42 of guide 24 and the right side of the cradle is at a` slightly higher elevation. 'I'his will cause the coil 29', under the force of gravity,

to roll off cradle 2 and onto the storage floor 43,

' which storage floor extends transversely tothe longitudinal axis of the coil-handling mechanism heretofore described. The storage floor 43 may be of any suit'able length so that any desired number of coils maybe accommodated thereon. At any opportune time whenever the equipment is available, the coils may be moved from the storage oor. After a coil has been transferred from cradle 2 to the storage floor 43, the cage 5 with its associated apparatus will be moved back to the position shown in full lines in Figure 2, where it is in position for a new coil to be wound on reel 28.

It will be observed that I have provided mecha,- nism which enables a heavy coil of 'material to be rapidly stripped from the coiler without injury to the material and moved -to a position clear of the coiler where the `coil may run onto a storfor carrying away the finished coilsfrom the mill, since the coils maybe quickly and readily stripped from the reel and speedily .disposed of onto a proper storage floor. I also provide a platform (plate 30) which is a convenient place-y for the mill attendant to stand` when work is being done in that vicinity. Furthermore, there is no open pit adjoining'the mill into which ma-` supporting cradle, means for guiding said cradle for movement in arsubstantially vertical path while permitting limited arcuate movement of the cradle relative to the guiding means, meansfor causing substantially vertical movement of the cradle and guide means andk means for moving said cradle andguide Imeans ln a substantially lateral path. I,

2. In apparatus in the class described, a coil supporting cradle, a guide member to which said cradle is hingedly attached, a cage member in which. saidguide is received and in which it is vertically movable, means on the cage and guide for restraining the guide from movement except -in a limited vertical direction, and means for moving said cage member in a horizontal path.

3. Incoil handling apparatus a supporting cradle, a vertically movable guide member for pivotally supporting the cradle, a cage member in which said guide member is receivedand means attached to said cage forming a space covering telescoping platform.

4. In coil handling apparatus a supporting cradle, a vertically movable-guide member for pivotally supporting the cradle, .a cage member in which said guide member .is received, means attached to said cage forming a space covering telescoping platform and means for causing said platform to move Ain a predetermined path.

5.' Apparatus of the class described, comprisy ing a cradle, a guide member on which the cradle is pivoted for a limited movement and movable up and down with the cradle, a link pivotally connecte-d to the cradle eccentrically of the pivotal connection between the cradle and guide, and means for raising and lowering the link whereby whenpressure is applied to the cradle through the link, the cradle is rst moved on its pivot and the cradle and guide then lifted as a unit, and when pressure is released from the link the guide rst drops with the cradle and the cradle then pivots in the reverse direction rel-` ative to the guide.

6. Apparatus of the class described, comprising acradle, a guide on which the cradle is pivoted for limited movement and movable up and down with the cradle, means for raising and lowering the cradle whereby when an upward force is applied to the cradle, the cradle is first moved on its pivot and the cradle and guide then lifted as a unit and when a downward force is exerted against the cradle sumcient to overcome the upward force, the guide and the cradle rst drop as a unit and thereafter the cradle pivots in the reverse direction relative to the guide.

7. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a cradle movable upwardly into coil-retaining position and downwardly into coil-discharging position, a guide on which the cradle is pivoted for a limited rotative movement and movable up and down with the cradle, means for moving the cradle into coil-retaining position before the com- 4 pletion of the upward movement of the guide and and through which'the cradle isl caused to move, l vertically with the guide member, ymeans for causing substantially vertical movement of the cradle and guide means, said means being connected to the cradle eccentrically of the hinge connection and means for moving said cradle laterally.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a coil supporting cradle, a guide member'to which said cradle is attached, a hinged connection between the cradle and guide member, a lost motion connection between the cradle and guide member, said guide member being movable vertically by and with the cradle, a cage member in which said guide is received and in which itis vertically movable, and means between the cage and the guide member for restraining the 'guide member from movement except in a limited vertical direction. 10. In apparatus of the class described, a coil supporting cradle; a guide member to which said 'cradle is attached, a hinged connection between the cradle and guide member, a lost motion connection between the cradle and guide member whereby thecradle may be tilted relatively to the guide member into and out of coil handling position and through which the cradle is caused to move vertically with the guide member, said guide member being movable vertically by and A with the cradle, a cage member in which said guide is received and in which it is vertically movable, means between the cage and the guide member forrestraining the guide member from. movement except in a limited vertical direction and means for causing the cage member to move horizontally and means for restricting the movement of the cage member to a pre-determined horizontal path.

ll. An apparatus of the class described, a coil supporting cradle, a guide member vertically movable by and with the cradle, a hinged connection between the cradle and the guide member, a lost motion connection between the cradle and i the guide member, whereby the cradle may be nected to the cradle, a lost motion connection betwee-n the guide member and cradle, means for moving the cradle whereby the cradle may be tilted relatively to the guide member into and out of coil retaining position and through which the cradle is caused to move vertically with the guide member and the guide member vertically in a pre-determined path, a cage in which the guide member is received, means between the guide member and the cage for insuring movement of the guide member in a pre-determined path and means for moving the cage in a direction transverse to the path of vmovement of the guide member.

13. Coil handling apparatus comprising a supporting cradle, a guide member to which said cradle is hingedly connected, means for imparting limited lateral and vertical movement to the vcradle and guide means and means connected to the cradle eccentrically of the hinge connection for eiTecting a tilting motion to the cradle relative to the guide.

14. In coil handling apparatus, a supporting cradle, a vertically movable guide member con nected to said cradle meansl for effecting movement of the cradle and the guide member, said means rst effecting a tilting motion of the cradle and then a vertical movement and then movement of the guide member upon upward travel and a movement of the guide member and the cradle simultaneously and then a tilting motion of the cradle upon downward travel.

15. In apparatus o! the class described, a cradle, a guide member on which the cradle is pivoted for a limited movement and movable up and down with the cradle, means `for raising and lowering the cradle, said means being connected to the cradle eccentricaliy to the pivotal connection between the cradle and guide, the arrangement being such that when said means are operated to raise the cradle, the cradle is rst rotated on the pivotal connection and then the cradle and guide are lifted as a unit and when the means are operatedto lower the cradle,` the guide member ilrst drops with the cradle and the cradle then rotates in the reverse direction relative to the guide. n

16. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a cradle,r a guide on which the cradle is pivoted for limited movement and movable up and down with the cradle, means for raising and lowering the cradle whereby when an upward force is applied to the cradle, the cradle is rst moved on its pivot and the cradle and guide then lifted as a unit and when a downward force is exerted against the cradle sumcient to overcome the upward force, the guide and the cradle rst drop as a unit and thereafter the` cradle pivots in the reverse direction relative to the guide, and means for moving the cradle in a substantially horizontal path. f

1 7. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a cradle movable upwardly into coil-retaining position and downwardly into coil-discharging position, a guide on which the cradle is pivoted for a limited rotative movement and movable up and down with. the cradle, means for moving the cradle into coil-retaining position before the completion of the upward-movement of the guide and for lmoving the cradle into coil-discharging position after completion of the downward movei `supporting cradle, ar guide member to which said cradle is attached, a hinged connection between the cradle and guide member, a lost motion connection between the cradle and guide member, said guide member being movable vertically by and with the cradle, means for, moving the cradle vertically, the arrangement being such that upon upward movement of the cradle the cradle is iirst rotated about the hinged connection and then the cradle and guide member are moved upwardly together.

20. In apparatus of the class described, comprising a cradle movable upwardly into coil retaining position and downwardly into coil discharging position, a guide to which the cradle is hinged at one side, a connection between the guide and the cradleat the opposite side permitting-limited tilting of the cradlerelative to the guide, means connected to the cradle i'or moving the cradle and the guide vertically, the arrangement being such that the cradle is `moved into coil retaining position before the completion of the upward movement of the guide and into coil discharging position after completion of the downward movement of the guide.

` CLARENCE J. KLEIN. 

